September 2010

September 30, 2010

You should know my fondness of galvanized tubs by now. The small one in the first photo is what I've used to keep drinks cold during parties. It turned into a "pool" for Presley then for her cousin's on this warm day about a year ago. After this anytime her cousins where over they would ask to go "swimming".

The whole thing sort of makes me laugh. We started calling it our "pool" as a joke, on warm days we'd sit outside have a cocktail while Presley and her cousins or her and the dogs played in the water. One day Dominic asked me next time to have a bigger pool for him. I thought he meant a real pool, I was like oh sure the next time you come! He then told me they (the store) have plastic ones that are bigger. It made me smile, here I thought he was asking for something big and unreasonable and he was just asking for something they all could at least sit in. As adults (wait I'll just speak for me) as an adult I tend to forget how easy kids can be and how some really simple things can make them just as happy as the big new exciting stuff.

We have been looking for a bigger tub since then. The tub in the second photo is actually a beer tub from The Library on Mill Ave. Before they closed they sold everything and we bought the beer tub...

September 29, 2010

October is breast cancer awareness month and my girlfriend has the coolest way to support it! Erica is not only one of my favorite coaches at Core Crossfit she is also a hairstylist at Le Bella Salon & Medspa in Scottsdale. Go to her salon and donate $10 and you will get one pink hair extension (there are three different colors of pink to choose from). The extensions are not clip ins they are SoCap hair extensions and are "bonded" to your natural hair by keritan.

After seeing her pink extensions this morning at the gym I was totally in (are you kidding me pink hair, Presley will love me!). I then scheduled an appointment for this afternoon. It took maybe 5-10 minutes, I got two extensions ($20) and I was out the door! I'm now thinking I'm going to go back for two more...

I didn't take my camera in, I felt like a big dork! I was going to have Erica take a photo with me (so ya'll could see her) but sometimes I just need a break from the camera. So I didn't take the camera in and when I got home I was kicking myself. Because then I was left trying to take a self portrait, this was take #47. It's just hard to not look like a dork taking your own photo... I didn't want to take a photo of my face so I was trying to just get my hair, that didn't turn out. You see well, the photo was more of "breast awareness". That wasn't going to fly! So #47 bathroom self portrait it is.

I really think this is a cool idea and a fun way to support breast cancer awareness and a search of a cure. Go see Erica and save the boobies!

September 28, 2010

This morning Mack and I went to take a look at where our friend board their quarter horse in the north valley. I felt like a little kids again! The grounds where amazing and the paddock was top notch. While I was there I snapped a few photos and got to see several horses being shoed, something I've never seen.

It was set up like a spa for horses. In one stall the guy took of the shoes, cut the nail and trimmed the cuticle (what we were refer to as a cuticle) from the bottom of the hoof, filed the hoof then the next guy took over. He then put the shoe on the horse. The stables were so nice and no flies (they had misters) I couldn't believe how nice it was.

Watching the trainer Trace on Whiskey and do his workout was pretty fun too. He could turn on a dime and stop in an instant. He will not complete for another year so he still has plenty of time to train and learn. It's my understanding that he will do an event called reigning.

I'm learning so much about horses and all that they can do it's been so fun for me. I've always wanted to be around horses and not be afraid, I think that will come with the more I learn about them... I was in the stall with Whiskey by myself and I go a little scared, I was in the corner and he was looking at me (all 1,000 plus pounds of him). He wasn't at all aggressive but wow, what he could to with that kind of power made me a little uncomfortable.

September 26, 2010

I've recently blogged about a event I was taking part in at my gym, Core Crossfit in Phoenix. After speaking to several friends it's clear that a lot of people don't know much about Crossfit. So I thought I would blog a little about it to just clear things up. Or at least explain what it is for me.

It's funny because I always have a hard time explaining "what" crossfit is. During the free Saturday morning workout Coach Adrian always explains it by saying something along the lines of, "we take everyday movements do them at a high intensity for a short amount of time so that you can move more weight a longer distance faster."

A lot of what people hear about these workouts scares them. In some workouts you'll do pull ups, squats, dead lifts or use kettle bells. For someone like me all of that was new. I've always worked out however I've never been able to do a pull up. The great thing about Crossfit is it's all scalable so that everyone can Crossfit.

In the photos above I'm doing a pull up with the help of a rubber band. During this work out I think we have a total of 30, by this point I was feeling the burn. What you can't tell is that I was kicking my free leg trying to find the power to complete the pull up. I am still new to a lot of the movements and workouts at Core Crossfit. But I'm doing so many things I never would have done outside of this gym.

Another draw to the Crossfit workout for me is people at the gym. A lot of the members refer to each other as family, brothers or sisters. During the workouts we all cheer each other on and that's huge when you want to quit or not push as hard as you know you can. The coaches are the best you could ask for and making sure you stay safe and healthy. When you're doing these type of workouts, moving weight it's so important that you do it properly.

I feel pretty lucky to be apart of this group of athletes. The gym keeps me motivated and accountable. I've had a membership at Lifetime Fitness since 2005. I know many of the instructors and people working there. I have to say in all the years of being there I've never had anyone ask why I missed class last week.

September 25, 2010

Today was the Fight Gone Bad Event I have been fundraising for, over the past 33 days I have been able to raise $1000. For The LIVESTRONG Champaign, The Wounded Warrior Project and Crossfit Kids. I had set a high goal of $5000. I had no idea how hard that would be.

I sent over 100 individual emails to friends and family. I didn't call many people because asking for money was very uncomfortable and I really didn't want to put on a hard sell to my friends. I'm disappointed I didn't come close to my fundraising goal. However I am very pleased that 20 plus people supported me and these great charities.

Today I wanted to give my all and I did. Like I promised I made a video of today's workout, well I didn't Mark did. He and Presley cheered me on, however he didn't realize I wanted him to film my teammates as well. So I'm sorry to say the video is just of me and a few pictures of the Core Crossfit Family. I hope you enjoy it... Thank you to all the friend that supported me, it means a lot to me. And during my workout when I wanted to slow down I really did think about my promise to put it all out there today.

Oh yeah, I did this work out last month (Aug. 24th) my total reps was 181. Today's total reps was 258, not a bad improvement in one month! I have to add that I really am loving the workouts and the team environment at Core Crossfit. Hearing the coaches and other members cheer you on is a real motivator... It's a great group of people, without them I don't think I would be as motivated to perform the way I have in these recent weeks.

September 23, 2010

Today for lunch my met one of my girlfriends at a new spot for lunch. It was a combo knockout, I wanted to blog about a new lunch place, see Heather and chat with her about her new blog! We had a great time chatting and catching up, we had Suns tickets next to each other and don't see much of each other off season.

First for the food, it was awesome. I assume The Parlor is well known for it's Pizza, it's a Pizzeria. However with my caveman food habits, I can't eat pizza Monday- Friday. Thank goodness they have a wonderful salad menu, they all sounded yummy. I decided to go with the Fresh Green Salad, Dusty our waiter said it was the most popular. I did have my eye on the Spinach Salad and the Heirloom Tomato Salad (if you've had it let me know what you think). Anyway, my lunch was super yummy, fresh and I loved the homemade dressing that was so light (I'm funny about dressings). I really don't know if I put my fork down once I started eating? I'm thinking no...

Oh and by the way The Parlor use to be a hair salon years ago. I had hoped it would have some funky "salon" touches around the restaurant. It didn't but I loved the wood on the walls (looks reclaimed) and the outdoor patio and fireplace. It's modern, simple with clean lines, but it's warm colors so I like it.

Ok so check out Heather's blog (www.heatherpranitis.blogspot.com). She's just started blogging recently and has done a great job diving in and building her site... Heather and I hit it off right away when we met, I think three years ago, maybe four. She always makes me laugh and her blog does the same. I have to thank her for putting up with my four takes of our self portrait.

September 21, 2010

Today Presley had her first field trip. The kids in her class rode the Flash Bus from their front door (on ASU campus) and back. The route took about 20-30 minutes and the kids were so excited. Parents were invited and both Daddy and I went.

Presley really enjoys her schoolmates so much I'm so glad I was able to get a photo of them. The little girl she has her arm around is her favorite. Ashley (I don't want to use her real name) is from China and doesn't speak english. The two of them have become great friends with a common interest in horses and unicorns. Ashley is really good at drawing and daily draws horses for Presley.

When Preschool first started I noticed Presley would always ask Ashley to draw her a horse or unicorn. I was worried it bothered Ashley (she was always very involved in her drawing). However in the past two weeks as soon as we walk into the classroom Ashley's face lights up. Presley even said to me, "Mommy, Ashley is looking right at us (as we walked in)". Ashley is the person Presley is excited to see at school in the morning.

Then today on their field trip they picked each other for their buddy to hold hands with. And they both didn't want to wear the school shirts, hmm... I'm happy for the both of them that they've found a friend in each other. I would like Presley drawing horses on her own. She seems to think that when she gets older and "doesn't speak english she will be able to draw horses and unicorns". I can't seem to clear the language difference to her yet... But she does draw Ashley rainbows and Princesses.

I just found out that Ashley has only been staying half day but since she has become such good friends with Presley she will now stay the whole day!

September 20, 2010

This weekend I was truly honored to photograph Beautiful Baby Christopher... Christopher is named after his Uncle, who I never had the chance to meet. I did however write about his passing in my blog several months ago, he lived in my neighborhood. You can read the post here.

Since then I have come to realize Chris's brother Tony and my brother are friends. And when Tony asked that I photograph his baby boy I was very excited, I think nervous is a better word. I personally felt a greater responsibility and wanted them to love their photos... I'm still editing the photos and I'm very excited for them to see them all.

I always buy one new prop for each session and chat with the parents to find out more about them. Tony let me know he would like a photo with Baby Christopher in his brother's beanie. I also asked him to bring some military stuff (he was in the service) to see if we could work it in. I did buy a baby cradle but we didn't get around to using it. But I think we got photos of the stuff that mattered.

September 19, 2010

I had a family session today at noon, only 106 degrees. I thought about rescheduling but families are already so hard to plan with multiple busy schedules I thought be better run with it. I'm really glad we did. They were a lot of fun to work with, we got great photos pretty quickly.

I am looking forward to cooler weather but I'm thankful for the families braving the heat with me. They look so happy you can't even tell it's hot (hot hot) out.

September 14, 2010

The first photo is a drawing Presley made the other night while I was on a conference call. After my call she came to show me the drawing, she said "this is Daddy, this is Presley and this is Mommy. Mommy, I love your heart." I just melted. I'm not sure where she got that from but that was the same thing she told Mark when she drew it (I love Mommy's heart).

I was so excited about this picture for several reasons. I love that she's drawing (in my head she's already an artist) and her saying that to me let me know that she loves me. Raising her has been a much harder task then I ever expected. It's hard not to second guess decisions and question if I'm "doing the right thing". I do wonder how she will feel about the choices me and daddy made as parents as she looks back on her childhood. For now, I tell her how much I love her and cuddle her daily because I don't ever want her to question my love for her.

I wanted to share this piece so I have it journaled... Who knows if she will ever read this but it's here if she does, and Mommy loves you Sweet Baby Presley....

The photo of the two of us was taken last week. We stopped by the studio to say hi and the next thing you know we are in front of the camera. So don't worry there's no goals of a modeling contract in our future and no stage Mom action either... I should know by now if you get near a photographer and they have their camera- be prepared.